Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police to Operate Illegal Private Loan Damage Counseling Center

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is conducting support consultations by visiting areas at risk of illegal private loan damage.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Fair Judicial Police Unit announced on the 3rd that it will operate the "Visiting Illegal Private Loan Damage Consultation Center," which provides guidance from damage consultation to reporting and relief procedures, at 14 industrial complexes and traditional markets in the province until the end of next month.

Accordingly, the Special Fair Judicial Police Unit will start operating the consultation center by opening one at the Banwol Surface Treatment Business Cooperative in Ansan City on the 4th of this month, then visit seven industrial complexes and seven traditional markets, including Uijeongbu Jeil Market, to operate the centers sequentially.

The damage consultation centers will be operated in a way that dedicated investigators for illegal private loans provide direct damage consultation, reception, and guidance on reporting and relief procedures at temporary consultation desks.

When damage is confirmed, immediate investigations will be conducted to reduce harm, and support will be provided on types of illegal private loan damage and countermeasures. Depending on the damage details, guidance on "Ultra-Low Credit Loans" through the Gyeonggi Province Low-Income Financial Support Center will also be provided.

The Visiting Illegal Private Loan Damage Consultation Center is a project started in 2020, where the province directly visits the site to assist victims who avoid visiting investigative agencies due to concerns about revealing their use of illegal private loans, fear of retaliation, or livelihood reasons.

So far, the province has visited 42 locations, including 33 traditional markets and shopping districts, 5 universities, and 4 industrial complexes, conducting over 310 consultations.

As a result of these efforts, the damage consultation center was selected as an excellent policy for eradicating illegal private loans by the Financial Services Commission in 2020. It is also operated by other local governments nationwide as a model case.

Kim Young-su, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Fair Judicial Police Unit, emphasized, "Due to the worsening economic situation, illegal private loan damage is expected to be significant among low-credit small business owners who urgently need operating funds. We will minimize damage through the operation of the consultation centers."